The Role of Nutrition in Mental and Brain Health Across the Life Course

ABSTRACT

Globally, rates of common mental disorders, like depression, and neurological disorders, like dementia, are significant causes of disability. Since the pandemic onset, there have been 53 million new cases of depression globally. 1 In the United States alone, deaths owing to dementia and Alzheimer's disease have increased by 16% during this time.2 The onset and trajectory of mental and brain disorders are influenced by numerous exposures across the life course, one of which is nutrition. [...]Yung et al. present evidence for the role of diet in the development of depression during the vulnerable periods of childhood and adolescence and provide strategies to help mental health clinicians address diet as part of their practice with youth. [...]Young et al. focus on ways adults with depression can improve their diet quality in mental health settings by harnessing digital health platforms and offer practical advice from their pilot program.